Boat in “Vol Navy” catches fire before Tennessee game

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police say a yacht caught fire near Neyland Stadium ahead of a Tennessee home football game.

Media report the boat was part of the “Vol Navy,” a group of boaters who gather in the Tennessee River near the stadium for home football games.

Knoxville Fire Department officials said the vessel “Chances R” caught fire at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, several hours before the game. Five people and one dog were on board. Officials say none of them were hurt.

Knoxville Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks says the owners of the yacht ran the generator all night and smelled smoke in the morning. They saw flames coming from a hatch where the generator was located.

Fire officials believe the generator was the cause of the fire.